986 inmates released as Presidential Pardon Committee resumes meetings

CAIRO – 4 May 2022: A total of 986 inmates have been pardoned by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Eid al-Fitr, according to a Tuesday statement by the Ministry of Interior.

The Presidential Pardon Committee works with the relevant authorities and several NGOs to pardon those who meet the conditions.

The Ministry of Interior said this comes as it follows the “modern sense” of punitive policy. Meanwhile, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched the national human rights strategy in September with vows to open the public space to be more and more inclusive.

 

Three journalists were released Saturday via a presidential pardon, and 41 activists were released from pre-trial detention per a State Security Prosecution decree on April 24-15.

 

The Presidential Pardon Committee held its first meeting with its new formation and prepared a list of detainees for pardoning on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.

During its meeting, the committee discussed the mechanisms for receiving pardon requests from the families of prisoners.

This includes through a pardon request form on the National Youth Conference website, a form that will be launched within hours, the committee said.

Families can also submit pardon requests via mail to the human rights committees of the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Requests can also be submitted to the complaints committee of the National Council for Human Rights and to the members of the Presidential Pardon Committee.

The committee added that it will hold a series of meetings with political parties, unions and civil society organizations to discuss their requests of pardon.

On Tuesday, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reactivated the ‘Presidential Pardon Committee’ which was formed as one of the outcomes of the National Youth conference, as it will expand its cooperation with the competent agencies and civil society.

During his speech, Sisi expressed his happiness at the release of new batches of Egyptians during the past days, and stressed that the country accommodates everyone.

Sisi also directed the National Youth Conference management, in coordination with all political parties and youth currents, to conduct a political dialogue on the priorities of national actions during the current stage.

A day later, Egyptian authorities announced releasing 3,273 inmates via presidential pardons on the occasion of Sinai Liberation day.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj also stated Wednesday that a list of 700 debtors has been prepared so they would be released from prison by a presidential pardon.

The minister noted that the selection was restricted to those who got loans to pay for essentials, and not just for unnecessary reasons. She added that 250 of those will even regain their freedom before Eid Al Fitr.